Trial in Warren infant's death delayed three weeks

The trial date for a Warren woman accused of beating her infant daughter to death was pushed back three weeks in September.

Charliette Stalling, 25, is charged with felony murder and child abuse for the death of her 18-day-old daughter, Jamiah Stalling, a day after she called 911 to report Jamiah was vomiting and choking. The medical examiner’s office concluded Jamiah died from four blows to her head.

Assistant Macomb County Prosecutor Therese Tobin on Tuesday was granted postponement of the Sept. 9 trial date to Sept. 30 for scheduling reasons, by Judge Mary Chrzanowski of Macomb County Circuit Court.

Stalling will turn 26 during the trial, which is expected to last roughly about one week. The prosecution currently plans 16 witnesses but that likely will be reduced, according to Tobin.

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Stalling’s attorney, Louis Zaidan, expects to call several witnesses.

Zaidan said following the hearing his client remains steadfast in denying she harmed the child. She maintains she doesn’t know how Jamiah suffered the injuries prior to being rushed to a hospital Oct. 3, 2011.

Paramedics responded to a 911 call about 1 p.m. at the home in the 7200 block of Orchard Avenue west of Van Dyke Avenue, between Eight and Nine mile roads. Jamiah was limp and her heart was not beating. Her heartbeat was restored but she died the next day at St. John Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit.

There is no direct evidence Stalling inflicted the injuries, which, according to Dr. Daniel Spitz, could have been caused by Jamiah being hit or dropped multiple times.

At a preliminary hearing in March, neighbor Ebony Hawes testified she arrived home around 8 a.m. from a midnight shift job the day the infant’s symptoms were reported. Stalling had been caring for Hawes’ elderly grandmother and 5-year-old daughter.

Hawes took the daughter to school around 8 a.m. then returned home for an adult day care worker to pick up the grandmother. She then left for about 75 minutes to run an errand, during which time Stalling was the only person with the infant.

Shortly after she returned, the infant began exhibiting symptoms that resulted in a 911 call.

Warren paramedics arrived seven minutes later.

Warren police said Stalling celebrated her Oct. 3 birthday after Jamiah was hospitalized and continued to celebrate the next day.

Zaidan plans to file at least one motion prior to the trial.

Felony murder carries a penalty of life in prison without parole.

Stalling, at the time, had two outstanding warrants on misdemeanor charges. She was convicted of marijuana possession in April in 37th District Court in Warren and fined $350. A charge of driving with a suspended license was dismissed.

About the Author

My beat is the courts of Macomb County and general assignment.
Read more of Jameson Cook's court coverage on his blog http://courthousedish.blogspot.com/ Reach the author at jamie.cook@macombdaily.com
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